Locking device



Nov. 20, 1928. 1,691,975

J. c. IRWIN LOCKING DEVICE Original Filed June 1, 1925 mm :D

lnl erzior JwT/CECZ r-wine W Patented Nov. 20, 1928.

1,691,??75 T OFFICE,

JUSTICE C. IRWIN, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR, BY MES NE ASSIGN' MENTS, TO STANTON HOME SAFE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .A' CORPORA- 'IION OF ILLINOIS.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in locking devices, but more particularly relates to such mechanisms of the type adapted for use on small devices 5 such as coin banks, to lock the closures thereto. v

An object of the invention is to provide a lock mechanism comprising a locking member of unitary structure adapted to be mounted in a closure and co-operating therewith to locksaid closure to a container.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a one-piece locking member hav ng a plurality of spring-actuated locking bolts or 15 projections thereon which are adapted to be moved into and out of locking position by means of a key-member insertedtherein.

The particular object of the invent on therefore is to provide an improved locking device particularly adapted for use on com banks, by the use of which the cover or closure therefore may readily and quickly be.mount-. ed upon and demounted from the bank in a minimum amountof time. p

Other, objects of the invention will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings and will be pointed banks to distribute small com banks among.

out in the annexedclaims V In the accompanying drawings there has 30 been discloseda structure designedto carry out theobjects of-the inventionbut it is to be;

understood that the invention is; notconfined to the exact features shown as various changes maybe made within the scope of the claims 25 which follow. v r F In the, accompanying drawings forming part of this specification: I j Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional form of coin bank showing the closure locked the-reto'by the improved locking do vice;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the '-bank,.partially broken away, to

show how the closure is locked thereto;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 2, showing the one-piece look ing member in locking-position;

Figure 4 is asimilar view showingthe locking member inunlocking position;

Figure '5 is a perspective view ofthe 'im proved locking member removed from the closure; and j Figures 6- and' 7 show locking members of a modified construction. I I

- In the selected embodiment of the invenbank by theuse of LOCKING DEVICE.

Application filed Julie 1, 1925 Serial No. 34,044. Renewed my 14, 1928.

having a coin slot 12 at one end thereof through which the coins are inserted intothe bank. The construction of the body portion.

of the bank and the means provided therein for preventing the coins from being removed from the bank through the slot 12, forms no part of the present invention and therefore need not be sho'wnand described in detail; 7

An important feature of this invention resides in the novel means provided forlockmg the closure 18 to the open end of thecasing 11.. Coin banks such as the one above described, usually have a cover or closure demountably secured to one end thereof so that access may be had to the-interior thereof for the removal of the coins after the bank has been filled or partially filled. The construc tion of this cover must be such that it may readily and conveniently be removed from the bank in a minimum amount of time and.

may .as readily bev secured or locked thereto after the bank has been emptied of its con-v tents. 7

' It is a common practice with many savings uickly'replacethem thereon in orderthat t ere will be no loss oftime in so doing. The particular locking devicefeatured in this invention is particularly designed to meet the above requirements as itmay quickly be requickly unlock'them from the bank and as,

moved from and replaced upon the savings a key-member. retained by theteller. i f V f Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 1, itwill be noted thatthe closure 13 is provided with. an annular flange 14 adapted to-be inserted into theopenend of the casing-11, (see. particularly Figure 2) A locking member 1 5,. pref} erablyconstructed of one-piece as shown, is mounteld'within the annular flange 14 of the closure 13. This locking member is provided wit-ha plurality of flexible arms-16 having locking lugs or projections 17 terminally formed thereon which are seated in guide apertures 18 provided in the annular flange 14 and are adapted to outwardly project therethrough as shownin Figures 2 and 3. The open'endof the casing 11 is, preferably rolled as shown in Figure 2 to provide an inwardly projecting annular flange or lip 19 A'key-slot22 is provlded in the central portion of the locking member 15 and is adapted to register with a similar slot or opening 23' provided in the closure 13, when the locking member 15 is in looking position as shown in Figures 2 and 3. VJ hen the keymember 24 is inserted through the opening 23 in the closure and into the slot 22 in the locking member, the locking member may be partially rotated from the position. shown in Figure 3 to that shown in Figure 4,wherein it will be seen that the lugs 17 are contracted or inwardly moved out of contact withthe inwardly projecting flange 19 of the casing 11 so that the closure may readily be removed therefrom. The inward movement of the lugs 17 is eifected by means of the inclined faces 20 thereof'engaging the ends of the guide slots 18 when the locking member is 4). It is also tobe noted by reference to Figure 4 that the particular construction and shape of the flexible arms 16 of the locking member is such that when the locking member is contracted or moved into'unlocking position as shown in Figure 4, 'al'l'ofthe arms will be moved into contact with oneanother before the lugs 17 are moved entirely out of the openings 18 in the flange 14 of the closure; thereby providing means forpreventing the locking member from accidentally becoming separated from the closure when the latter is removed from the bank.

7 The above construction also provides a stop for limiting the amount of rotation of the locking member within the closure 13.

From the foregoing. therefore, it will readily be seen and understood that by the employment of this novel one-piece locking member in conjunction with the closure of such a coin bank the locking mechanism therefore will be greatly simplified. i Thelocking member 15 may be stamped or punched from suitable sheet metal, so that it may be manufactured in large quantities at afvery low cost. .It will also be noted that the locking device, as a whole, comprises only twoparts,

namely, the closure and the locking member 15 mounted therein, which is operable by means of the key-member 24 shown. in-

sure 13'from the casing ll, the key-member- 24 is inserted through the key-slot 23 in the cover and nto the corresponding slot;22 in the key-member 15, after which itis rotatedand aslight outward pull imparted thereto] which will remove the closure from the casing. The closure may be mounted upon'and locked to the casing without the use ofthe key-member by simply inserting the flange 14 'thereinto and slightly pressing the finger against the closure which will'cause the lugs 17 to be inwardly moved to the position shown n Figure 4 until the ends thereof pass theannular flange 19, after which they willfsnap' into locking position as shown in Figures 2 and 8, by the tension of the arms 16'. v

Figures 6 and 7 show locking members'of modified constructions. The structure shown 7 in Figure 6 comprises a central disc 20 having a. key-slot27 provided therein." 'In this construction the arms 16 and lugs 17 are constructed of wire suitably formed and each having one end secured to the disc 20 as shown, thereby forming ineifect a one-piece structure which will function in a manner similar to that shown in the previous figures.

The structure shown in Figure 7 is similar to that shown inFigure '6 with the'exception that it is made of a single piece of'wire having its central portion coiled'to form 'a. slot or opening 28 adapted to receive the keymember 24. I T i In the preferred Figures 3, 4 and 5, the lockingmemb'er is shown as having fourl'ocking lugs 17 It is to be understood thatthe number of suchlugs may be varied, as desired, without departing from the invention, the primary object of the invention being to provide a. locking member ofunitary structure, thereby greatly simpli construction shown p I fying the construction of the lockmechanism with a resultant decrease in'the cost of manu facture. Y The construction of this novel locking device is also such that it can not easily be rendered inoperative, thereby'providing such a device which is well adapted foruse Q on such structures as coin banks.

I claim'as my invention: w; q 1. Alockmg devlce for a conta ner cover comprising a locking member adapted to be mounted upon the cover for relative move mentthereon, said'member having a plural- V ity offlexible arms adapted tobe movedmto lockin 'en a ement with the container walls b p .z: V a

means for moving said arms and each arm having an inclined face cooperating with means on said cover whereby, when the locking member is relatively rotated by said means, said arms will yield radially and become disengaged from said container walls.

2. A locking device for a container cover comprising a locking member mounted in the cover and adapted for relative movement therein, said locking member having a plurality of flexible arms integrally formed thereon, lugs on said arms adapted to be moved into lockin engagement with the container walls, means for relatively rotating said arms and each lug having an inclined face adapted .to engage the cover whereby, when the locking member and arms are actuated by said means, said lugs will bemoved out of locking engagement with said container walls.

3. A locking device for a container cover including a locking member and a supporting means therefor, said locking member being of unitary structure and comprising a hub having a plurality of flexible arms and lugs thereon adapted for locking engagement with the container walls, and said lugs havingbeveled faces adapted to engage said container walls and fiexsaid arms and allow said cover to be seated on said container, without the use of a key. I

4. A locking device for a container cover comprising a locking member adapted for movement therein, said locking member hav 'inga plurality of flexible arms integrally formed thereon, lugs on said arms adapted to be moved into locking engagement with the container walls, means for moving said arms by a key, and each lug having an inclined face adapted to engage the cover whereby, when the-locking member and arms are actuated, said lugs will bemoved out of locking engagement with the container walls.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of May 1925.

. v JUSTICE C(IRWINQ 

